INTERESTING FACTS : THOMAS PAINE English-American writer and political pamphleteer whose "Common Sense" and "Crisis" papers were important influences on the American Revolution. Other works that contributed to his reputation as one of the greatest political propagandists in history were Rights of Man, a defense of the French Revolution and of republican principles; and The Age of Reason, an exposition of the place of religion in society.[1]

 

"The right of voting for representatives is the primary right by which other rights are protected. To take away this right is to reduce a man to slavery, for slavery consists in being subject to the will of another, and he that has not a vote in the election of representatives is in this case.[2]"

 

Daily Reading : Mark 6-7

 

TEXT : Mark  6:1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.  6:2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?  6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.  6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.  6:5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.  6:6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

 

THEME : Unbelief

 

Mark 6 

 

Our Lord's countrymen are astonished at his wisdom and mighty works, and are offended at him, Mar_6:1-4. He works few miracles there, because of their unbelief, Mar_6:5, Mar_6:6. He sends forth his disciples by two and two to preach, etc., Mar_6:7-11. They depart, preach, and work miracles, Mar_6:12, Mar_6:13. Different opinions of Christ, Mar_6:14-16. Account of the beheading of John Baptist, Mar_6:17-29. The disciples return, and give an account of their mission, Mar_6:30. He departs with them to a place of privacy, but the people follow him, Mar_6:31-33. He has compassion on them, and miraculously feeds five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, Mar_6:34-44. He sends the disciples by sea to Bethsaida, and himself goes into a mountain to pray, Mar_6:45, Mar_6:46. The disciples meet with a storm, and he comes to them walking upon the water, and appeases the winds and the sea, Mar_6:47-52. They come into the land of Gennesaret, and he works many miracles, Mar_6:53-56.  (Adam Clarke)[3]

 

Mark 7 

 

In this chapter we have,  I. Christ's dispute with the scribes and Pharisees about eating meat with unwashen hands (Mar_7:1-13); and the needful instructions he gave to the people on that occasion, and further explained to his disciples (Mar_7:14-23).  II. His curing of the woman Canaan's daughter that was possessed (Mar_7:24-30).  III. The relief of a man that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech (Mar_7:31-37).  (Matthew Henry)[4]

 

Mark 6: 1 - 6

 

In that which follows, the history (properly so called) of His service is resumed (chapter 6). Only we see Him already rejected by a blinded people, in spite of the power which He had manifested, and which bore testimony to the glory of His Person. Nevertheless He pursues His service, and sends forth His disciples in order that no effort might be wanting; but with the testimony of the judgment that awaited those who should be guilty of the rejection of His mission — a rejection that was already taking place. The LORDhowever continues to give proof in mercy and in goodness that Jehovah, who had compassion on His people, was there; until at length He had to prepare His disciples for the certain result of His work, namely, His death by the hand of the Gentiles, to whom the chief priests would deliver Him.

 

To the Jews He was the carpenter, the son of Mary. Their unbelief stopped the beneficent hand of God with regard to themselves. Jesus carries on His work elsewhere, and sends forth His disciples — an act which implied the possession of divine power. It was still to Israel that the mission they received from Him directed them, and they were to pronounce judgment upon the land of Emmanuel, the land of Israel, as a polluted land, wherever their testimony should be rejected. They were to go forth resting on the mighty protection of Him who sent them, and they should lack nothing. He was sovereign Lord: all things were at His disposal. Christ can not only communicate blessings as the channel of blessing Himself, but can also confer on His disciples the power of casting out devils. The disciples fulfil their task. This passage shews forth in a remarkable manner the position and glory of Christ. He is the servant — for men, the carpenter's son. In His new service, He takes no place but the filling up of that which God had given Him to do. He could do no mighty works there, because of their unbelief — ever ready to serve, but shut up, straitened in the exercise of His love, where no door opened to receive its influence; and nature judging according to sight never does. Only where a need was, His love, never tired, works — must work. The few sick folk profit by a love that despises none, because it never seeks itself.

 

But, in the following verse, He who could not work mighty works (because His service was dependent on divine conditions, on which God could found and carry on His intercourse with men, in order to reveal Himself) now gives power to others over all unclean spirits, a power which is divine. Any can work miracles, if God gives the power; but God alone can give it. They are to lack nothing, for Emmanuel was there; and to announce judgment if their message was rejected. Divine love had made Him entirely a dependent Servant; but the dependent Servant was God present in grace and righteousness.  (John Darby)[5]

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY : "THE GREATEST HINDRANCE TO YOUR OWN WELFARE IS UNBELIEF."

 

Unbelief is perhaps the greatest crime a man or woman can commit.  This may sound like an exaggeration, but it is the truth.  Of course, murder, adultery, stealing etc. are serious offenses against our neighbor.  However, behind all of these things is the principle of unbelief, which is the foundation of sin.  Anything done contrary to God's Word by any human being is predicated or based on unbelief.

 

Jesus' first miracle was at the wedding in the city of Canaan.  From that time on, Jesus did many marvelous works.  Crowds flocked to Him, and there were so many healed and delivered from their sickness and demonic powers that the numbers could not be counted.  However, when He goes back to his own hometown, he can hardly do any mighty works.  With this as a backdrop, Jesus teaches you two things.

 

First, an anointed man or woman is not without honour accept among his own family and friends.  Then, secondly, he tells you that many mighty works cannot, or perhaps it is better to say - will not - be done by Him where there is no faith present.  Both of these principles are vital to your life in the LORD Jesus Christ.

 

To start, if you are serving the LORD, you may have already found that some of your greatest foes are among your friends and family.  This we see in Jesus' life as He goes to Nazareth.  It is there that He is astonished - [as He was on many occasions when people exhibited great faith], by their great unbelief.  In any case, his family and friends, the people with whom He grew up, were offended by the fact that He had done so many miracles in other places.  To some degree, this is a bit of a mystery. You would think that they would want Him to do the same as He had done in other places.  However, the reverse is true.  As you read in the text, He did not do many mighty works there.  All of this was due to their unbelief.  That is, they did not believe in Him as Messiah, or Prophet, or Miracle Worker.

 

Thus, the scenario before you is a lesson to learn.  As mentioned, unbelief is the greatest crime against God.  The reason this is so, is because behind every sin there is unbelief, a lack of faith that God will judge. You would think people would see the obvious - that is, everything sown, at some time or other, will grow.  Still, regarding the obvious, believing this principle of life - namely, you grow what you sow, is not the case with people in general.  The fact is - "all men have not faith" as you see written in the Word of God.  The reason for unbelief is sin, and the reason for sin is unbelief.  It is much like the adage - what came first, the chicken or the egg.  In the end, it does not matter.  One affects the other.  Although, it is obvious that unbelief precedes sin as you look in the garden and see Eve then Adam partake of the forbidden fruit.  This, no doubt, was because unbelief entered their hearts and minds and they no longer believed there would be consequences to disobeying God.

 

This is why you want to make sure your heart, mind, and soul is full of faith.  It does not matter if the people close to you [as Jesus states] will reject you.  Or, if only some reject you, since not all family and friends dismiss truly anointed or called [saved] people.  However, it is a common experience for many people that it is their own relatives - wife, husband, and close family members including friends, who are the very ones that give them the hardest time about their commitment to Christ.  Nevertheless, once you have it clear in your mind that there will be opposition to your commitment to the LORD, then you will be able to serve Him with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.

 

Now, you must concentrate all of your efforts on believing the Word of God.  How many blessings have you already missed through unbelief?  How many times have you been sick, weak, without strength, only because you did not believe what the Word of God says?  You may never know.  However, you can change today and tomorrow.  You must believe the LORD and take his Word at face value in a full heart of trust and faith.  The act of believing will accomplish more good [since it is the LORD Himself who does the work], then all of your worrying, complaining, talking to others, or of the endless machinations of the mind - put together.

 

As you have already seen, Jesus reduces the Gospel down to words "only believe." If you like, you can say it is reduced to five words - "Be not afraid.  Only believe." In these two sentences, Jesus eliminates the two greatest problems you have - fear and unbelief.  Interestingly, we see both of these conditions in Adam and Eve in the garden.  When God appears to them in the evening to speak with them, they are afraid.  Prior to that, they believe the word of Satan against the Word of God as sin enters the world.  Their fault of course, was unbelief.  Therefore, you can say the foundation, on which all of Man's problems are based, can be reduced to two primary vices - fear and unbelief.

 

Yet, you find your solution to these two life altering sins by believing the LORD, by believing His words.  This will eliminate all your problems.  You cannot expect everything in life will be easy. Yet, the simplicity of Jesus words, His life, His way, is the answer.  This is why you must build your faith in the Word of God - the Bible, and make sure it takes root in your heart.  Otherwise, you too will be found in the same unenviable position as the people of Nazareth.  That is, you will have a heart of unbelief, and Christ will not do any mighty works in your life.  Moreover, you may also be found offended at the Word of God at various times in your life, or when you read select verses in the Bible.  Unbelief is the cause of all of this. It is the father of sin.

 

Today, believe the LORD. For the greatest hindrance to your own welfare is unbelief.  Do not be your own worst enemy.  Believe the LORD!